Track Listing

1. John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Judah To Ocean
2. John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Toot Nipple
3. John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Dogjam
4. John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Pavane: She's So Fine
5. John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Rag The Bone
6. John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Habanera
7. John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Stubble Crotchet
8. John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Hammer & Chisel
9. John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Alligator Escalator
10. John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Standchen: The Little Seranade
11. John's Book Of Alleged Dances: Judah To Ocean (Reprise)
12. Gnarly Buttons: The Perilous Shore
13. Gnarly Buttons: Hoe-down (Mad Cow)
14. Gnarly Buttons: Put Your Loving Arms Around Me

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #128088 in Music
• Released on: 1998-04-21
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Two of John Adams' Solid Works of Humor and Warmth
John Adams becomes more popular by the year with his compositions for large orchestra ('Naive and Sentimental Music', 'On the Transmigration of Souls') and operas ('Doctor Atomic' and in a way 'El Nino') gaining justly increased performances, but Adams has another side - chamber works. As with all great composers it is the smaller, exposed works that often tell us more about a composer's genius. The two works on this splendid recording prove this to be the case.

'John's Book of Alleged Dances' was written for the Kronos Quartet and is a bit of whimsy in its series of eleven dances for string quartet and a rhythm track made of prepared piano sounds. The result is a group of works that pay homage to the backwoods simplicity of America's folktunes. The dances are endlessly creative, with never a moment of hurried compositional thought. They are played with such fine sense of fun and expertise by the Kronos Quartet that they become instant staples in the chamber repertoire.

'Gnarly Buttons' could be called a clarinet concerto, but that title does not fully cover the novelty of the work. Composed for clarinet, banjo, guitar, mandolin, trombone, English horn, bassoon, piano, strings, and 'two samplers' playing a variety of sounds including accordion and cow! The piece is dizzy, playful, funky, fun and virtuosic! Adams conducts the London Sinfonietta and the Present Music ensemble with clarinetist Michael Collins in this rollicking performance that feels like a ride through the farmlands and backcountry of America. It is a delight and the recording is highly recommended. The CD includes some fine notes from the composer, giving us an immediate association with the two works. Drop the pretensions and just settle in and enjoy some fascinating and fine compositions. Grady Harp, April 06

Allegedly Good!
I first heard three pieces of the Alleged Dances at a concert that featured Schnittke and Shostakovich, and there was nothing out of place in this piece. Now that I have heard the rest of Alleged Dances, it reaffirms my belief that here at last we have a composer of our time who is in tune with the times, who can be as classical or as pop as anyone and most importantly write good music that entertains as it does provoke.

It is strange that people will call Brahms' Hungarian Dances
"classical" but not John's fabulous Alleged Dances. Adams here is far more sophisticated than Brahms, and he deserves to be up there with the greats.

If anything, I was overjoyed to hear how Adams made the connection between what we call "classical" music and pop, reminding us that even back in Handel's time dance was the basis of music that we now call high art.

Moo!

One of My Favorite Album Covers (And the Music's Good, Too!)
I enjoy classical music, but I'm not a snob about it. [Note: My definition of classical music is any music performed using orchestral instrumentation, so for me this qualifies as classical music.] Several things appealed to me about this particular album: I enjoy the work of the Kronos Quartet, I was intrigued by the "alleged dances" phrase in the title, and this is one of my favorite all-time album covers.

Both pieces on this disc were composed by John Adams. "Gnarly Buttons" was commissioned by the London Sinfonietta and "John's Book of Alleged Dances" was commissioned for the Kronos Quartet.

In his liner notes, Adams says the dances are 'alleged' "because the steps for them have yet to be invented. They cuss, chaw, hock hooeys, scratch and talk too loud." The titles of these dances ("Toot Nipple," "Rag the Bone," Alligator Escalator") are as quirky as the music often is. Adams also provides explanations of each of the dances. For example, "Hammer & Chisel" is about two of Adams' contractor friends. "Hammer is an aging Sixties radical....Chisel keeps his politics to himself. I can hear them arguing while they pound, drill, rout and measure." Sometimes playful, at other times quiet and graceful, the music is thoroughly enjoyable. RECOMMENDED